Nationals boost standing in regional NSW

The Nationals have boosted their standing, winning seats in the far west and far north of the state.

The National Party is promising to be a strong opposition force along the mid-north coast.

Party leader Andrew Stoner says there has been a terrific result right up to the Queensland border.

"I think it's almost beyond doubt that John Turner in Myall Lakes, myself in Oxley, Andrew Fraser in Coffs Harbour, Steve Cansdell in the Clarence, Don Page in Ballina and looks like up in the Tweed, with Geoff Provest," he said.

"So really for the Nationals, a very strong green line from the lower mid-north coast, right up to the border."

The new Nationals member for the far west seat of Murray-Darling says he is humbled by his victory.

John Williams beat colourful Labor MP Peter Black after the electorate's boundaries were re-drawn to include places in the state's south like Deniliquin.

But the National Party is in danger of losing one of its blue ribbon seats in northern New South Wales.

The result in the Moree based seat of Barwon is to go to preferences, with the independent candidate, Tim Horan, pressing close behind the Nationals candidate Kevin Humphries.

The Independent candidate running in the seat of Goulburn, Paul Stephenson, says he is confident he will beat the high-profile Liberal candidate Pru Goward.

Mr Stephenson says it will be days before the final result is known, but he believes once the preferences of other candidates have been distributed he will come out in front.

Meanwhile, the two Independent MPs in inland northern New South Wales have retained their seats.

The MP for Tamworth, Peter Draper, has won a bitterly fought campaign against the National's Kevin Anderson, although Mr Anderson is not yet prepared to concede defeat.

On the Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay also retained his seat with an increased majority.

Liberal Shelley Hancock says she has won the seat of South Coast with an increased margin, despite wins for Labor across the rest of the Illawarra.

The ALP has retained the seats of Keira, Wollongong, and Kiama, and has also won the new seat of Shellharbour.